What McGraths Limestone does

McGraths Limestone (Cong) Ltd is a privately held, family-owned Irish industrial minerals and construction materials producer headquartered in Cong, Co. Mayo. Founded in the early 1960s on a 7-acre quarry that has grown to approximately 180 acres, the company operates across six primary product lines: crushed limestone aggregates and stone, ready-mix concrete and concrete blocks, asphalt and macadam road surfacing products, agricultural lime (sold under the Grolime trademark) and farm hygiene products (Farmcal), proprietary calcium carbonate powders and granules (Congcal), and Cemfloor cement-based liquid screed.

The company is vertically integrated from raw quarry extraction through finished product delivery. Core processing includes limestone crushing, milling, screening, drying and air classification at a state-of-the-art calcium carbonate plant commissioned in 2007, two fully automated concrete batching plants with combined output up to 120m³ per hour, and a 1998-acquired asphalt/macadam manufacturing operation. A GPS-based traceability system tracks each blast/batch from the quarry face through to delivered product, and products are certified to ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 standards plus sector-specific EN standards for concrete, asphalt, aggregates and blocks, and FEMAS accreditation for feed materials. Grolime is tested twice annually by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine.

McGraths generates revenue primarily through one-time sales of bulk materials under quote-based pricing, with Cemfloor distributed via 80+ channel partners across Ireland and the UK under exclusive distribution rights secured in 2016. The company serves five end markets: construction and civil engineering (including major developers Kennedy Wilson and Vastint UK), agriculture (dairy, beef, and tillage farmers, plus contractor networks), industrial manufacturing (glass, plastics, paints, paper, and notably Rusal Aughinish — Europe's largest alumina refinery), government and local authorities (Galway and Mayo County Councils, Office of Public Works), and flooring contractors via Cemfloor's approved applicator network. Operations span Ireland (Cong and Newbrook), the UK (Buxton manufacturing, Glasgow port facility, Dunfermline depot) and reach 20+ European countries for calcium carbonate exports, supported by regional sales representatives and agricultural contractor agents.

Name

McGraths Limestone

Legal name

McGraths Limestone (Cong) Ltd

Website

https://mcgraths.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

McGraths Limestone is a family-owned Irish industrial minerals producer in Cong, Co. Mayo that quarries high-purity limestone and supplies aggregates, ready-mix concrete, asphalt, agricultural lime (Grolime), Cemfloor liquid screed, and calcium carbonate (Congcal) to construction, agricultural, industrial, and government customers across Ireland, the UK, and 20+ European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Materials

NAICS

Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying (212312), Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing (32732), Concrete Pipe, Brick, and Block Manufacturing (32733)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products (3270), Cut Stone & Stone Products (3281)

akta.pro primary industry

Limestone Quarrying (Industrial & Construction Grade) (IMAKAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aggregate Processing & Value-Added Products (Washing, Screening, Asphalt/Concrete Aggregates) (IMAKAHAH), Calcium Carbonate (GCC/PCC) (IMAEAFAA), Crushed Stone Quarrying & Processing (IMAKAHAA)

Keywords

• Limestone quarrying
• Calcium carbonate production
• Ready-mix concrete
• Agricultural lime supply
• Cement-based liquid screed

Headquarters

HQ city

Cong

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Aggregate and Stone Products: Sale of crushed limestone aggregates, quarry run rock, various sized broken stone and chips, Clause 804/810/811 materials, quarry dust, sands. Products supplied from quarries in Cong and Newbrook.
2. Ready-Mix Concrete and Blocks: Production and sale of ready-mix concrete (40+ specialized mixes) and concrete blocks. Two fully automated batching plants producing up to 120m³ per hour. Products delivered via tracked concrete mixer fleet.
3. Asphalt and Road Surfacing: Production and contracting of asphalt, macadam, HRA and SMA products. Supply and lay contracting for road surfacing projects. 20+ years in asphalt production.
4. Agricultural Products (Grolime, Farmcal): Sale of agricultural lime (Grolime), cubicle lime, slurrycal, hen/poultry grit. Products include supply, delivery and spreading services in Connacht region. Also distribution through Scottish depot.
5. Calcium Carbonate (Congcal): Sale of calcium carbonate products for glass manufacturing, animal feeds, industrial applications, plastics, paints, paper, construction. Products exported to over 20 countries including Sweden and Estonia.
6. Cemfloor Screed Products: Cemfloor liquid screed distributed through 80+ channel partners across Ireland and UK. Products include various screed types (Complete, Level Plus, Therm UFH, High Performance Concrete, NH).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

McGraths Limestone quarries limestone from its 180-acre Cong, Co. Mayo deposit and manufactures a diversified portfolio of construction, agricultural, and industrial materials. Core products include crushed aggregates, ready-mix concrete and blocks, asphalt and macadam (HRA/SMA), the Congcal range of high-purity calcium carbonates for industrial use, Grolime/Farmcal agricultural lime and hygiene products, and Cemfloor proprietary cement-based liquid screed distributed across the UK and Ireland.

Product overview

McGraths Limestone operates as a diversified construction materials company offering a portfolio of quarrying, aggregate, concrete, and mineral products. The core product lines include: Grolime agricultural limestone (including Grolime Scotland) for soil correction; Cemfloor cement-based liquid screed for flooring; Readymix and Concrete Blocks for construction; Asphalt and road surfacing products (Asphalt Concrete, HRA, SMA); and the Congcal calcium carbonate product range (G3, G4, G5, 10m, G1 Granular, F2, F3) serving industrial markets including glass, plastics, animal feed, and construction. The Farmcal sub-brand covers agricultural hygiene products including cubicle lime variants and Slurrycal. Products are manufactured at company facilities in Cong and Newbrook, Co. Mayo, with operations extending to Scotland and supply to over 20 countries across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cemfloor: Cement-based liquid screed for domestic and commercial floor screeding applications. Available across UK and Ireland through approved distributors.
• Grolime
• Congcal
• Farmcal

Products and services

• Grolime Agricultural Lime Premium high-calcium agricultural ground limestone with 98.5% Total Neutralising Value (TNV) and Effective Neutralising Value up to 60-66.6%, used to correct soil acidity and improve grass productivity. Tested twice annually by the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine. Includes supply, delivery and spreading services in the Connacht region; sold to farmers and agricultural contractors.
• Grolime Scotland Premium High-Calcium Agri Lime High-calcium agricultural lime produced from Ireland's purest limestone deposits, distributed from the Waulkmill Farm depot in Dunfermline for Scottish farmers. Daily XRF-tested purity, 98.5% TNV, available by delivery via eight-wheelers/articulated lorries or customer collection ex-works.
• Cemfloor Liquid Screed High-performance cement-based liquid screed for domestic, commercial, and industrial floor applications. Self-compacting, free-flowing, self-levelling, quick-drying (foot traffic in 24 hours), compatible with underfloor heating systems. UKCA and CE marked to BSEN 13813:2002. Installation rate up to 2,000 m²/day, around 10x faster than conventional floor screed. Distributed via 80+ approved channel partners across Ireland and UK.
• Agricultural Concrete High-quality concrete designed for agricultural and livestock farming applications, including livestock buildings, milking parlours, and farm workshops. Supplied to agricultural customers.
• Readymix Concrete Ready-mixed concrete for domestic, commercial and industrial needs, produced at two fully automated and computerised batching plants with output capacity up to 120 m³ per hour. Over 40 specialised concrete mixes available including foundation mix, footpath mix, fibre-reinforced concrete, and self-compacting concrete. Delivered via tracked concrete mixer fleet.
• Concrete Blocks
• Interlocking Road Barrier Blocks & Porto Blocks
• Asphalt Concrete (Bitumen Macadam) Bitumen macadam composite material for heavy-duty road surfaces including motorways, national roads, car parks, and driveways. Supplied and laid by McGraths' experienced road crew.
• HRA (Hot Rolled Asphalt) & SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt)
• Aggregates Crushed limestone aggregates including quarry run rock, sized chips (300 mm to 6 mm), Clause 804/810/811 materials, quarry dust, Armourstone for riverbank/sea wall protection, and specialised sands produced from Cong Quarry and the Newbrook quarry. Certified to EN 12620 and EN 13242.
• Congcal Calcium Carbonate Range (G1, G3 Grade 2, G4, G5, 10m, F2, F3) Congcal high-purity calcium carbonate products (98.5-99.2% CaCO3) produced from limestone deposits at Cregaree, Cong, Co. Mayo. Multiple grades (granular G1-G5 and fine F2-F3, plus 10m) tailored for glass manufacturing, animal feeds, plastics, paints, paper, rubber, asphalt fillers, flue gas desulphurisation, plasters and renders, liquid screed, SCC concrete, brick manufacture, alumina manufacture, and fertilisers. Low iron content (<0.03% Fe2O3) for glass applications. Exported to over 20 countries including Sweden and Estonia.
• Farmcal Cubicle Lime Range (Cubicle Lime, Super P Cubicle Lime, Hydrated Blend Cubicle Lime)
• Slurrycal Conc.
• Hen & Poultry Grit

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.5% Total Neutralising Value (TNV) for Grolime - higher purity than standard products requiring less application per acre
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grolime (Certified Trademark)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMcGraths is a registered supplier of the Grolime certified trademark. Grolime is a certified trademark for agricultural ground limestone products meeting specific quality standards. Partnership provides market credibility and quality assurance for agricultural customers.
• GLPA (Ground Limestone Producers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcGraths is a member of the Ground Limestone Producers Association. GLPA sets standards and promotes quality agricultural lime products in Ireland. Membership requires meeting regulatory standards and Department of Agriculture testing requirements.
• Department of Agriculture, Food & MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducts tested twice annually by the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine which provides McGraths with license to sell agricultural lime products. Ensures compliance with S.I 248/78 regulations for lime marketing in Ireland.
• Cemfloor Channel Partners/DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor80+ channel partners/distributors across Ireland and UK for Cemfloor proprietary liquid screed technology. McGraths holds exclusive distribution rights for UK and Ireland. Partners receive training and certification for product application.
• Agricultural ContractorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of agricultural contractors who deliver and spread Grolime products. Example: Paddy Farragher has been agent for McGraths since 1970s, delivering and spreading Grolime in south Mayo and north Galway.
• National Parks & Wildlife ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for peregrine falcon conservation in the quarry. NPWS personnel Irene O'Brien conducts bird ringing and monitoring. Partnership demonstrates environmental commitment and biodiversity management.
• Earth Science PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting engineers working with McGraths on ecological assessments and conservation area management within the quarry boundary. Jointly set aside areas for nature conservation.
• FEMAS (Feed Assurance Material Scheme)coreOthersFEMAS certification for feed materials ensures McGraths calcium carbonate products meet standards for animal feed applications. Accreditation demonstrates quality assurance for agricultural and feed-grade products.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Imerys: Paris-listed global specialty minerals group producing calcium carbonate, GCC/PCC fillers, and industrial minerals for plastics, paints, paper, and construction. Comparable to McGraths' Congcal calcium carbonate product line and serves overlapping industrial customers across Europe.
• Aggregate Industries (Holcim): UK subsidiary of Holcim, one of the largest aggregates and concrete producers in the UK. Direct overlap with McGraths on ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and asphalt, though operates at significantly larger national scale.
• Tarmac (CRH UK): UK's largest construction materials provider, owned by CRH, offering aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and cement. Direct competitor to McGraths in UK aggregates, ready-mix, and Cemfloor-adjacent screed/cementitious products, though at much greater scale.
• CRH plc: Largest Irish-headquartered building materials group globally, with extensive aggregates, concrete, and cement operations. Overlaps with McGraths across aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and asphalt, but operates at vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• Omya: Swiss-headquartered global producer of calcium carbonate fillers and specialty minerals. Closely comparable to McGraths' high-purity Congcal grades sold to glass, plastics, paint, and animal-feed customers across Europe.
• Nordkalk: Northern European (Finland) limestone and calcium carbonate producer serving paper, steel, glass, agriculture, and environmental applications. Comparable to McGraths on high-purity limestone processing and calcium carbonate grades for industrial and agricultural customers.
• Whitemountain Quarries: Northern Ireland-based quarrying and asphalt group with multiple sites producing aggregates, asphalt, and concrete products. Comparable regional peer to McGraths in scale and product mix across aggregates, asphalt, and readymix in the Ireland/UK market.
• Breedon Group: UK and Ireland-listed aggregates and construction materials group operating quarries, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt, and cementitious products. Directly comparable to McGraths across aggregates, ready-mix, and asphalt; serves similar construction and infrastructure customers in the UK and Ireland.

Regional players

• Lagan Group: Northern Ireland-headquartered construction materials and contracting group operating quarries, bituminous products, and concrete. Similar quarry-to-finished-product vertical integration as McGraths, primarily focused on the Northern Ireland and GB markets.
• Hanly Quarries: Irish family-owned quarry operator producing ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and concrete products across the west of Ireland. Closest size and family-ownership comparable to McGraths; direct competitor in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mcgrathscong
• Facebookfacebook.com/McGrathsLimestoneWorks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcgraths-limestone-works-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcgraths_limestone_cong

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McGraths Limestone